Saturday, December 31, 2011

Today, the very last day of 2011, was a gorgeous day for December here in the Mid-Atlantic region. When I got up this morning, I asked hubby if he’d like to go to the Shady Maple Farm Market in East Earl, PA since it was such a nice day and he said YES! It was my first time there and you know you NEVER forget your first time! Ha ha!

We bought some bread, lunchmeat and cheese, went to a nearby park, made sandwiches on the tailgate of the truck, and had a picnic. A picnic in December is a rare treat, especially for the very LAST day of December. What a real treat it was!

The scenery out that way is just awesome! Lots of really nice Amish farms to look at along with all the beautiful creeks and streams flowing everywhere. I wish I could share every one of the photos I took today with you but there’s way too many. Here is one more though from today’s trip. I hope you enjoy the photos!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

For the past few days, I've been going through the house cleaning out closets, cabinets and drawers in search of items to donate to the Purple Heart. I actually found a lot of decent stuff that we didn't use or need anymore. It's always a great feeling to know that it'll go to someone who really needs it or at least I hope that's where it goes.

Let me tell you what happened today with all this stuff we were donating. I happened to be looking out the window as the person who came to pick up our donation walked across our front lawn to the front porch. He picked up the 2 bags and the chairs and proceeded to walk to his truck where he literally just threw them to the ground. I was dumbfounded!

He then came back to the porch and picked up the other 2 boxes, which contained fragile glass items, and picked them up. I was cringing as I was so afraid he was going to just throw them on the ground as well. But he didn't. He opened up the big truck door and then he threw them in! WHAT??? He tossed several other boxes around that were already in the truck in order to make room for the ones he took from us. I couldn't believe he was doing that!

Had I known my donations were going to be treated that way, I would have taken them to a local charity where I knew they wouldn't have been mistreated. What will they do with the items that may have gotten damaged? They can't sell them!

The Purple Heart asks for donations of gently used clothing and household items, including breakable items so why do the drivers just throw the stuff around? That particular driver, who worked for a trucking company, not the Purple Heart, just showed me how disrespectful he was of the military. Shame on him and he should be fired!

I immediately sent an email off to the Purple Heart to let them know how upset I was. I don't know if anything will be done about that driver but at least it made ME feel better to alert them to the situation.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Hey, remember 35mm cameras? Just barely, right? While doing some housecleaning to gather things together to donate to the Purple Heart, I discovered this old relic! Hard to believe that one time this was my absolute favorite camera above any other I’d ever owned.

There was actually a roll of film still inside with 5 shots left on it. I quickly snapped 5 shots of my Christmas tree and removed the film from the camera. Now what do I do with it? Ha ha! I am so used to removing a memory card from my digital camera and uploading the photos right away to my computer that it feels foreign to me to actually hold a roll of film in my hand.

Do any camera shops still develop 35mm film? Or maybe a CVS or Walgreen’s perhaps? I’m not sure since I haven’t had any 35mm film developed in like, forever. Well, when I figure out where to take it for developing, it’ll be interesting to see what images are on the film and IF they even turn out. I’ll keep you posted!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thought I’d share our Christmas tree with you today and for the next few days I’ll try to share each day a close-up of one of the ornaments on the tree. Every year I like to take close-up photos of many of our ornaments so I can scrapbook them. Most years I put the same ornaments on our tree but I never get tired of looking at them. Each one has a story all it’s own and has special meaning to our family so I don’t like to leave any of them off. It just isn’t the same!Only 265 days to go!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Well, I’m not really a huge fan of the show but due to the fact that a sort of ‘relative’ is one of the three final contestants vying for a 5 million dollar recording contract prize, I have been following it. And tonight is the last night the final three contestants perform their last songs so I will be watching. Tomorrow night the winner is announced and I will be so happy for the show to end. It’s not my favorite show to watch but like I said, someone I know has been on it and that’s the ONLY reason I’ve been watching. Anyway, good luck to Josh Krajcik, hubby’s great niece’s father.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Here’s my new ribbon organizer hanging on the pegboard in my scrap room. Totally loving the fact that it got my ribbon out of a basket that was on my worktable and freed up some table space in the process. It’s still not as organized as I’d like but since I’ve been really busy with holiday-related issues, it’ll have to wait. So far though, I am liking this new purchase that only cost me $9.99 plus shipping from Scrapbook.com. It is now on sale for $24.99 here but currently sold out and I also just recently saw this somewhere else on sale for $24.99 so I got a REAL bargain on mine! Awesome!

Monday, December 19, 2011

As long as there is birdseed in the feeder, there will be birds hanging around every morning so we try to make sure it’s always full. I never get tired of watching our little feathered friends flit around the feeder.They are so animated as they try to find just the perfect spot to land while trying to avoid running into another bird doing the same thing. They sure are entertaining as I wait for my pot of coffee to finish brewing.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

....what this is? I'll give you a hint....my hubby works for a large aircraft company and that's where he got the idea for this lovely (?) piece of oak whatever he calls it!

Ummm, I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do with it but in time, I'll figure something out, I'm sure. He keeps telling me to 'put stuff on it'. Well, it's up too high and I can't reach to 'put stuff on it'! So he had to do it and those things are probably not going to stay there. I'm open for suggestions!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I have had this cool picket fence photo frame it seems like forever and finally found a photo that was perfect for it. I wish I had another one now but have no clue where I got this one from as it was bought many years ago. Yep! It took me YEARS to put a photo in it! I'm just a little bit slow.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Here she is, Miss Aveney! Isn't she cute? Well, I think so! Aveney is one of my many granddaughters and I am getting excited because I will be seeing her soon along with her older sister, Scarlet. They will be here for Christmas. Yea! I can't wait to hug and kiss them again. It's been too long!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

I got a delivery today! Yea! Something new for my scrap room....a ribbon organizer. I bought this a couple weeks ago for a steal! Regular price on this baby was $89.99 and do I ever feel sorry for ANYONE who paid full price for this. I got it for just $9.99 plus shipping. The shipping was actually more expensive than the organizer. Wow, what a deal this was!

The organizer will hang on the pegboard in my scrap room, right smack in front of my main stamping area. Then I can get the basket full of ribbon off my worktable and free up some space for something else. Yea! I am so excited to be able to make more room on my worktable as space is so limited what with all the projects I have going at the same time.

I will try to post a photo of the organizer after it's been attached to the wall and filled up with my ribbon. Off to ask hubby for some assistance on this.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Well, I don't think this tree could be considered the perfect tree but it's our Christmas tree for this year. It actually will be perfect once it's up and decorated. We prefer to have a real tree and always enjoy finding just the right one every year.

That's my hubby on the ground sawing the trunk. He has this thing about having his photo posted on the internet so out of respect for his feelings on that, you are not seeing his face. But don't tell him his butt has been posted on the 'net!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Well, I never watch the TV show 'Castle' but for some reason, I picked up this book the last time I went to the library not realizing it was written by the main character of the TV show. DUH! It actually says 'Watch Castle on ABC' on the cover but I totally don't recall seeing that. I must have been out of it or something on that trip to the library. I will, however, give it a try and see if it's worth reading.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

This was the view out my kitchen window this morning as my coffee was brewing. Frost on the skylight is always a pretty cool sight. Love to look at the intricate, lacy pattern frost produces on glass. Fascinating, isn't it?

Saturday, December 10, 2011

A very yummy holiday drink I enjoyed today at Ruby Tuesday. It's called a Holiday Sangria and it sure was yummy! Orange and lime juice with cinnamon and apples and a sprig of greenery. It was awesome! I think I will have to learn how to make these so I can enjoy them for the holidays here at home. YUM! So good!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Land's End is having a sale TODAY ONLY on their medium tote bags. They are only $12.00 and the regular price is $25.50. What a deal! Of course, my first, second, third and fourth color choices weren't available and the only one that WAS available was the red one but that's okay. The color really doesn't matter as the price was right! And FREE shipping made it an even sweeter deal!

Click on the photo to go to the Land's End website to get one for yourself. Sorry I'm telling you about this so late in the day but I hope you can get one if you really want one!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I bought this little tree at a place called Honeysuckle Trail Country Crafts recently. It was just the right size to fit into the niche on the wall in my foyer. It already had pine cones on it so all it needed was a bit of color. I added some white rickrack and red ribbon and it was finished! Now I just need to find a couple smaller gifts to put under it. The one that's there now is a bit too big.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Isn't this just the cutest little lantern you've ever seen? I don't know where the fascination for lanterns all of a sudden hit me but lately I've been collecting them. I found this one and another one recently at a local gift shoppe. The best part about these lanterns is you don't have to worry about them starting a fire if you leave them burning....just replace the battery. I love them and have found myself looking for others whenever I go out. Let me know if you see any interesting ones around town.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

I have had this candle for quite some time as I only burn it very briefly once in awhile. It is my most favorite one I've ever had and I have no clue where I got it or if someone gave it to me.

I love the fragrance! It's orange almond biscotti and when it's burning I can almost taste the real thing. Has anyone ever made orange almond biscotti? If so, please share the next time you make it. Haha!

And don't you just love the jar this candle is in? I wish I could buy some empty ones and use them to store my scrapbooking embellishments in. Oh, I will have to do a search for them! I'll let you know if I find some!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

I just picked up this book a few days ago at my local library and wasn't sure if I'd like it or not but it's actually quite funny. I had never heard of this author but then again, there's a LOT of authors I've never heard of.

The main character is Irish, straight from Ireland and is now living in New Jersey. New Jersey? How do you choose to leave Ireland for New Jersey? That in itself is funny! Although the book does have murders going on, it is still humorous and right now, I need all the humor I can get!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sharing a set of coasters made with ceramic tiles, scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. These are so quick and easy to make...well, almost! It does take time to apply several coats of Mod Podge plus several coats of an acrylic sealer as you do have to allow for drying time in between each coat but while you are waiting for them to dry, you can be making another set of coasters! Think Christmas gifts here!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

I received this lovely bracelet today from an online friend. Isn't it just lovely? Although this online friend and I have never met, we have talked on the phone and emailed each other many times in the past 3 years or so.

She tried her hand at scrapbooking and papercrafting for awhile as that is what I love to do but decided it wasn't for her. Jewelry making is more her speed and I think she chose the right creative outlet for herself judging by this lovely bracelet. Don't you agree?

Thanks, Linnea! I LOVE my new bracelet! You are truly as special as this bracelet is!

About Me

First and foremost I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother and a grandmother of six precious littles. They are my inspiration for this wonderful hobby of memory keeping and with the help of Close To My Heart, who I have been a consultant with for going on 10 years, I have created many beautiful scrapbook albums for my family to enjoy for many years to come! I can show YOU how to preserve your family memories through the art of scrapbooking and stamping, too. Contact me for more information about the wonderful products that Close to my Heart has to offer.